Raze the land and boil the sea; you can't take this week's podcast from... us? What is it about this _Joss Whedon_ franchise that has survived cancellation and a lack of conclusion? Why is it that so many are such adamant fans of this short-lived series? This week, we're talking about fans of Firefly, the aptly-named _Browncoats_!
Next week, we'll be tackling our final topic of the season: Disney fans (and its a doozy)!
## Episode outline
### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/34-james-bond-fans/) Famous Last Words
**Tom:** Why do people care about this show? I guess Nathan Fillion is cool... Why do you care so much about it? Get over it!
**Z:** What is the place of duelling in the world of firefly? How common is it?
**G:** Is it really that good?
**T:** Where's the second season? Why hasn't it been kickstarted?
### Fandom Facts
**Origins:**
> "Firefly" is a space Western set 500 years in the future, in the aftermath of a civil war between rebels known as Independents (or Browncoats) and a tyrannical conglomerate called the Alliance. The Independents lose the war, and under Alliance control, corporations rule openly;
>
> — [SFGate - When Fox canceled 'Firefly,' it ignited an Internet fan base whose burning desire for more led to 'Serenity'](http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-Fox-canceled-Firefly-it-ignited-an-2628890.php)
Firefly was a Sci-fi Western show broadcast in 2002. Created by Joss Whedon, only 11 of the 14 recorded episodes were aired in its original US run on the FOX network before the show was cancelled. Due to DVD sales, the show was deemed successful enough to have a movie produced, _Serenity_.
It stars several fan favourite actors such as Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and the late Ron Glass.
**Names:**
Browncoats, ["dubbed ... in honor of the doomed-but-noble Independents"](http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-Fox-canceled-Firefly-it-ignited-an-2628890.php) in the show.
**Most Active:**
Firefly fandom was most active around [October of 2005](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014v3t,%2Fm%2F02j9_2), which is just after the release of the movie, _Serenity_. Otherwise, interest in the show has been on a very slow decline with about half as much interest now as five years ago.
**Size of Fandom:**
We would estimate the size of the fandom as more than 200 000 people; After the show's cancellation, FOX released a DVD set of the show which sold more than 200 000 copies — enough to get the movie greenlit.
**Fan activity:**
Mostly shipping characters, as in other fandoms. During the early 2000's, "Shindigs" (informal gatherings) were popular.
**Fanfics:**
Archive of our own has over 5600, and Fanfiction.net has over 7200.
### Are you in, or out?
**T is in.**
**Z is out.**
**G is out.**
### This week's spotlight
**[Can't Stop the Serenity](http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/)**
Can't Stop the Serenity is a group that organizes screenings of Serenity for charity, usually [Equality Now](https://www.equalitynow.org/), an organization working for equality for women and girls. Since 2006, they have raised over $1 mil USD, and it is entirely run by volunteers!
> We share the ideal that people should “aim to misbehave,” if it absolutely means doing the right thing. We hold true that anyone can make a difference, and no effort is insignificant. Further we believe that a government shouldn’t destroy the rights of its citizens, regardless of sex. Basically, we watch our shows, support our causes and allow our voices to be heard because we live in countries which allow us to do so. But we realise that there are other people out there who can not do what we can do.
>
> — [Can't Stop the Serenity](http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/)
**[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)**
Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time...
